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Introducing Upopoy’s 5th Anniversary Celebration!
- Release Date:
Beginning in October, a variety of events will take place, including an expansion of our free admission day
Saturday, July 12, 2025, marks five years since Upopoy first opened its doors. Since then, we have welcomed more than 1.6 million visitors. To express our gratitude for the support and cooperation of everyone, including our local community in Hokkaido, we will be hosting Upopoy’s 5th Anniversary Celebration from October 2025 to the end of March 2026.
Outline
1. Three Consecutive Free Admission Days (Nov. 1 to Nov. 3, 2025)
Our annual free admission day, usually held on November 3rd (Culture Day), will be held for three consecutive days this year: Saturday, November 1 through Monday, November 3 (Culture Day). During this period, we will offer special events exclusive to certain days along with our regular programs, including exhibitions, performing arts, and workshops.
2. A New Special Program for Winter (Held in stages from Dec. 2025 onwards)
Experience winter-specific Ainu ways of life, sky lanterns, and other seasonal activities.
3. A Special Event Celebrating Multicultural Inclusion (Feb. 2026)
From Sunday, February 1 to Saturday, February 14, we will be hosting Multicultural Inclusion Week, featuring a program that explores diverse themes such as Japanese traditional culture, global Indigenous cultures, and world music, with particular emphasis on Ainu culture.
4. Limited-time Admission Discounts (From Oct. 2025)
In addition to offering a limited-time web discount for date-specific one day tickets, we will publish a family discount (various types, 200 yen off per person) in the PR publication HOKKAIDO.
Special Events for Upopoy’s 5th Anniversary Celebration
1. Free Admission Days
Saturday, November 1 to Monday (public holiday), November 3
Inside Upopoy
Packed with exciting things to see and do, this year’s event lasts for three days!
- Traditional Performing Arts
Enjoy songs, dances, oral literature, and musical performances in various styles. Some dance sessions even invite participation! - Workshops
A hunting-inspired workshop using a real bow and arrow, Ainu traditional instruments, mukkuri (a kind of mouth harp) performance workshop, free coaster embroidering workshop, etc. - Distribution of free I LOHAS (first-come-first-served basis) and wrist bands
- Limited-time installation of a bounce house for children
- Food trucks
- Stamp rally in collaboration with a popular manga, etc.
Special site here *In Japanese only
2. Admission Discounts
Scheduled for mid-October to Tuesday, March 31
To show our thanks, we are offering limited-time discounts!
- Web discounts on date-specific one day tickets through the Upopoy website and Jalan.net, and a family discount (various types, 200 yen off per person) published in the PR publication HOKKAIDO
- Web discounts applied to admission fees (Date-specific one day tickets) (tax included)
| Adult (General) | 1,000 yen |
| High school student (General) | 400 yen |
| Junior high school student and under | Free |
- An additional fee applies to some activities.
- Admission is free of charge for visitors with disabilities and one caregiver. Present any documentation upon entry.
3. Winter Experiences at Upopoy
A fully fledged winter program at the park
Inside Upopoy
Experience Ainu culture through a winter-exclusive program and witness the grandeur of nature, including a frozen Lake Poroto
- Reenactment of winter-specific Ainu ways of life at the Kotan（Traditional Ainu Village）area
- Sky lanterns floating in the night sky during the depths of Hokkaido’s winter create a magical scene (Scheduled for February)
- Other winter-exclusive experiences are also planned
Multicultural Inclusion Week
4. A Collaboration Between Ainu and Japanese Traditional Performing Arts
Sunday, February 1
Cultural Exchange Hall
A collaboration between Ainu and Japanese traditional performing arts!
- A collaborative event between Ainu and Japanese traditional performing arts, featuring talk sessions with inheritors of each tradition as well as performances
Multicultural Inclusion Week
5. International Symposium
Saturday, February 7 and Sunday, February 8
Museum Conference Room/Cultural Exchange Hall
National Indigenous museums of the world gather!
- An international symposium held with directors of Finnish, Australian and American Indigenous museums
- A presentation introducing each museum is also scheduled
Multicultural Inclusion Week
6. UPOPOY Music Festival 2026
Saturday, February 14
Cultural Exchange Hall
Enjoy Ainu music and folk music from around the world at Upopoy!
- Live performances featuring Ainu musicians and folk music groups from around the world
- The photos show performers from the UPOPOY Music Festival 2025
7. Upopoy’s 5th Anniversary Celebration: Ainu Collection at the Vienna World Exposition of 1873
Saturday, July 5 to Sunday, November 16
Museum Conference Room/Cultural Exchange Hall
Materials that were sent to Berlin, Germany, have returned to Hokkaido after about 150 years!
- An exhibition of the international collection from Berlin, Germany, returning to Hokkaido for the first time in approximately 150 years. It presents the formation of the Ainu collection and its historical context, beginning with the Vienna World Exposition—a symbol of Japan’s modernization and internationalization
Other Events in the Second Half of FY2025 (October to March)
8. Ainu Art Show 2025
Sunday, October 12 to Monday (public holiday), October 13
Inside Upopoy
A special two-day event to fully immerse yourself in the art and craft of talented creators!
- In addition to exhibiting and selling pieces by artists and artisans active across the country, diverse programs, including talk sessions and workshops let you engage directly with exhibitors while experiencing the charm of handmade work
- Receive a limited-edition sticker featuring the motif from Kohei Fujito’s work “Singing for the Future”
9. Illuminations
Saturday, November 22 to Sunday, March 22
Cikisani Square
Approximately 83,000 light bulbs transform Upopoy into a magical space! ☆
- Brilliant illuminations with silhouettes of animals connected to Ainu culture decorate the park
- Enjoy winter at Upopoy in a mystical setting with Lake Poroto as the backdrop
10. Upopoy, Shiraoi, and Noboribetsu Photography Contest 2025
Wednesday, July 9 to Sunday, November 30
Inside Upopoy/Surrounding area
Submit your most captivating photo!
- A photo contest in collaboration with Tokyo Camera Club is underway, themed “shareworthy Hokkaido moments.” Submissions are open for photographs taken in Upopoy, Shiraoi Town, and Noboribetsu City
- Winners will receive special prizes, such as accommodation vouchers
- Results are scheduled to be announced in late February on a special website and other platforms
Special site here *In Japanese only
Hiroki Inoue
Photographer from Sapporo. In 2016 he became the first Japanese to be awarded first place for the Nature Category of the National Geographic “TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR.”
11. Upopoy Explore & Learn Campaign
Friday, July 11 to Sunday, February 1
Inside Upopoy
Join the Upopoy Explore & Learn Campaign: an exciting way for children and parents to tour Upopoy on foot! ♬
- Encourage your child’s curiosity, independence, teamwork and communication skills by exploring and learning at Upopoy
- Download the Upopoy Explore & Learn Guidebook from our website—your helpful guide before, during, and after your visit
- Join programs and add stamps to your guidebook to enter a lottery for the chance to win original Upopoy merchandise
Special site here *In Japanese only
12. Enjoy Hokkaido with GOLDEN KAMUY! Supported by Upopoy
Tuesday, September 2 to Friday, February 27
Inside Upopoy
Campaign in progress! Click the links below for more information
Special site (Upopoy information) *In Japanese only
About Upopoy’s 5th Anniversary Celebration (PDF file, 1.37MB)